Pleasureland Southport to close

[bazzanoid]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Historic amusement park to close



</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>

The park opened in 1913



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA --><!-- S SF -->A Merseyside fairground which opened in 1913 is to close because of falling visitor numbers, it has been announced.


Owners of Southport's Pleasureland Amusement Park said despite investment in rides it has proved "unsustainable".

More than £2m was spent on renovations in 2004, including installation of the Lost Dinosaurs of the Sahara ride.

Park directors say increased competition from other attractions and an increase in Sunday shopping and sports events led to its downfall. <!-- E SF -->The park first opened with a figure-of-eight rollercoaster and a slide back in 1913. It was based at a site in Kings Garden but moved to its current home on Marine Drive in 1924.<!-- E BO -->

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Cochise]

Is this owned by Silcocks? Or is it just the arcades? I would put money on them having an offer they cant refuse to sell the land for high cost sea view flats.

 

[Minniespal]

What a pity

 

[bazzanoid]

You can see what's going to happen now.... Blackpool have been clearing space for a new ride or rides.... and with the log flume going....

I'm officially starting the rumour that the Pleasure Beach will get the Traumatiser and a small selection of flat rides from Southport in time for next season...

 

[kkymmy]

argh noooooooooooooo we were gonna go here next summer to celebrate end of exams

 

[Cochise]

Bazanoid,

Was just discussing that here now with a big coaster fan. Same company own B'pool so i would say the traumatizer will be on its way to there. Is there anything else worthy of going to the Pleasure Beach?

 

[bazzanoid]

Bazanoid,

Was just discussing that here now with a big coaster fan. Same company own B'pool so i would say the traumatizer will be on its way to there. Is there anything else worthy of going to the Pleasure Beach?

ermmmmmmmm No. nothing else worthy of going there at all. TBH, I wouldn't even put the Traumatizer there - it's not really what i would class as a crowd-puller, which Blackpool really needs right now as they've not had anything major since 2000 with Valhalla (I don't count Spin Doctor or Bling as major - they're both off-the-shelf fairground rides).

What I'd like to see is a world-class inverted coaster - it would be great to see a heavily-themed B&M coaster, but i doubt they will somehow.

 

[vicky1bfc]

Just been discussing this with DH,i really hope they don't put Traumatizer at blackpool.I know most of us were expecting a high class ride to go in place of the log flume.

 

[Chilly]

Southport (where I lived for most of my life) fair is very old and dated. They have improved other tourist attractions but pleasureland has stayed in the dark ages.

Perhaps they'll use the land for an indoor ski dome which they had planned to build in another area or an ice skating rink, another proposal that never turned into reality.

 

[Cochise]

ermmmmmmmm No. nothing else worthy of going there at all. TBH, I wouldn't even put the Traumatizer there - it's not really what i would class as a crowd-puller, which Blackpool really needs right now as they've not had anything major since 2000 with Valhalla (I don't count Spin Doctor or Bling as major - they're both off-the-shelf fairground rides).

What I'd like to see is a world-class inverted coaster - it would be great to see a heavily-themed B&M coaster, but i doubt they will somehow.

B&M Bargains themed coaster?

 

[Pootle]

.... home of many childhood memories; the River Caves (seemed just magical back then), the Caterpillar, Ghost Train and Waltzer .... and the smell of fresh doughnuts ..... aww, what a shame! Still, as I've not been for more than 20 years, I've hardly done my bit to keep it going

 

[Cyrano]

I suppose like many seaside resorts they just cannot compete against the Costa package holidays.